RISE's Reardon Honored for Efforts to Defend Against Preemption

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Karen Reardon, vice president of public affairs for RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) received one of CropLife America’s highest honors for her successful effort to defend against the ban of pesticide use on private property in Montgomery County, Md.

The award was given to Reardon on Sept. 25, 2017, during the CropLife America (CLA) annual meeting held in Dana Point, California. CLA, a sister association to RISE, is the national trade association for manufacturers, formulators and distributors of pesticides used in agriculture, food and fiber.

CLA President & CEO Jay Vroom presented Reardon with the Chairman’s Award, which recognizes individuals within the CLA/RISE staff for exceptional service to member companies, the industry and the association.

In presenting the award, Vroom said, “Karen has shown exceptional dedication to her position and leadership within the entire pesticide industry, ag and non-ag alike. She led our entire industry’s successful effort to defend against the ban of pesticide use on private property in Montgomery County, Maryland. Karen’s leadership of this multi-year effort resulted in one of the strongest legal rulings on behalf of this industry’s most important issue – defense of preemption. This effort has and continues to be exceptional service to member companies, the industry and the association. “

Reardon began working with RISE in 2006 and prior to that was with CLA for 10 years.

Inspect-All Services Names Sheffield Director of Pest Sales

Sheffield comes to Inspect-All with an extensive sales management background, most recently serving as vice president of sales for one of the largest pest control companies in Georgia. He has an entrepreneurial spirit and is very keen on human behavior, sales culture and overall leadership, the company says.

Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Abound in Deforested Lands, UF Reports

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Most disease-transmitting mosquito species live in deforested areas, a finding that may influence decisions on where and when to cut down trees, a new University of Florida study shows.Deforestation occurs when people remove trees to make way for neighborhoods, farms, shopping centers and other land uses, said Nathan Burkett-Cadena, a UF/IFAS entomologist and lead author of the study.

For their study, Burkett-Cadena and Amy Vittor, a UF assistant professor of infectious diseases and global medicine, synthesized and examined data from prior studies that had looked at how many pathogen-carrying mosquito species made their homes in forested lands vs. non-forested lands in 12 countries worldwide, including the United States.

They found that about half -- 52.9 percent -- of the species were more abundant in deforested habitats. Of those species that favored deforested areas, more than half --56.5 percent – carry viruses harmful to humans, the study showed. More importantly, all of the species that carry multiple human pathogens were more common in deforested land, said Burkett-Cadena, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, Florida.

“This research shows that when we convert forest to other uses, we make habitat for the mosquitoes that carry our diseases,” said Burkett-Cadena. “The takeaway message is that our forests provide benefits above and beyond the biodiversity they sustain, the products they provide -- such as food, lumber and medicine -- and the recreational opportunities that they provide. Forests are poor habitat for most of our disease-carrying mosquitoes.”

“Humans need to take this into account as we make decisions and policies about what we do with our remaining forests,” Burkett-Cadena said. “Given the rapid pace of global land-use change and deforestation, it is imperative that these dynamics are better understood to mitigate disease risk and guide land-use policy.”

Mosquito-borne diseases account for more than 17 percent of infectious diseases in people, according to the World Health Organization. The most common virus, dengue, is estimated to infect 390 million people per year, according to a 2013 study led by an Oxford University researcher. The UF/IFAS study is published in the journal Basic and Applied Ecology.

Bowman Termite & Pest Management of Wailuku, Hawaii, took first place honors. The judging panel commented on the banner’s graphic as being a memorable connection to the company’s name, along with easy-to-read contact information.

In second place was Aloha Termite, Lihue, Hawaii, with a banner featuring a brightly colored floral graphic, an offer for a free estimate and company contact information. Xtermco of Waipahu, Hawaii earned third place honors; and Chemi-Pure of Honolulu, Hawaii, fourth place.

Participating fumigation and pest management companies submitted photos of their banners for judging by a panel of professional communications specialists. Criteria included readability from a

distance, professional image, visual impact and overall attractiveness. Pest control companies with winning banners were awarded prizes in the following amounts: first place, $500; second place, $300; and third place, $100.

“We are pleased to sponsor HPCA’s banner contest,” says Heather Kern, commercial leader for Douglas Products, manufacturer of Vikane. “Structural fumigation is a very important service in Hawaii, and job site banners help companies reach homeowners.”